[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 14 (Friday, February 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 2004

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3030) to 
     amend the Community Service Block Grant Act to provide for 
     quality improvements.

  Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I held a town hall meeting in Scappoose, Oregon 
on Monday night. Scappoose is in Columbia County, which has a double-
digit unemployment rate.
  The first person to speak at that event was a woman who told me that 
her unemployment benefits will run out this month, she is terrified of 
losing her health insurance, and she is considering taking a job in 
California, leaving her children and family behind.
  Time after time in Oregon, I hear the heartbreak of a jobless 
economic recovery.
  Oregon has a jobless rate of 7.2% and we have lead the nation in 
unemployment for most of the past two years. And, it is estimated that 
as I speak, there are over 34,000 Oregonians who have exhausted all 
forms of unemployment assistance without finding a job.
  These are not just statistics. Each one of these 34,000 people risks 
losing their car, their home, or being unable to afford college for 
their children, or vital health care for their family.
  Mr. Chairman, all Oregonians hope for an improved economy that 
creates permanent high paying jobs.
  But today, these new jobs do not yet exist in Oregon. And so today, 
we must show compassion and extend unemployment assistance.
  At the end of that same town meeting in Scappoose, a gentleman also 
talked about the pain of being unemployed and asked me a straight 
question, who can change this?
  I gave him a straight answer. If the President picked up the phone 
and asked for an unemployment extension we would get it done this week.
  I said that before I knew we would be asked to vote the Miller 
amendment today. So today, I want to say to the President, sir I 
challenge you to feel the passion, the anger, and the pain of the 
millions of Americans who are out of work.
  Pick up the phone Mr. President, and let's extend unemployment 
benefits this week.
  I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in 
supporting the Miller amendment and I yield back the balance of my 
time.

                          ____________________